Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

Anadhyaya and the Winds: From Vedic Recitation Protocol to Sanatkumara’s Moksha-Upadesha

Devanagari script

एको ध्यानपरस्तूष्णीं किमास्से चिंतयन्निव । ब्रह्मघोषैर्विरहितः पर्वतोऽयं न शोभते ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

eko dhyānaparastūṣṇīṃ kimāsse ciṃtayanniva | brahmaghoṣairvirahitaḥ parvato'yaṃ na śobhate || 3 ||

Translation

तुम अकेले मौन होकर ध्यान में क्यों बैठे हो, मानो किसी चिंता में डूबे हो? ब्रह्मघोष से रहित यह पर्वत शोभा नहीं पाता।

Word by Word

• एकः: alone
• एकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ध्यान-परः: intent on meditation
• ध्यान-परः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘intent on meditation’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• तूष्णीम्: silently
• तूष्णीम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूष्णीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (रीतिबोधक अव्यय)

• किम्: why?
• किम्: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially ‘why?’

• आस्से: do you sit
• आस्से: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• चिन्तयन्: thinking
• चिन्तयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle/वर्तमान कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with implied ‘tvam’

• इव: as if
• इव: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle of comparison (उपमा-अव्यय)

• ब्रह्म-घोषैः: with Vedic recitations
• ब्रह्म-घोषैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘Vedic chants’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• विरहितः: devoid (of)
• विरहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-रहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); takes instrumental complement ‘brahmaghoṣaiḥ’

• पर्वतः: mountain
• पर्वतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• शोभते: shines/looks beautiful
• शोभते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada, in the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It teaches that inner meditation (dhyāna) is exalted, yet the living presence of sacred sound—Vedic recitation and Brahmanic chanting (brahma-ghoṣa)—also sustains the sanctity and spiritual radiance of a holy place and community.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By valuing brahma-ghoṣa, the verse points to devotional practice expressed through mantra, kīrtana-like sacred recitation, and satsanga—supports that keep spiritual life vibrant rather than isolated and merely inward.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implicitly highlights disciplined recitation and correct sacred utterance—areas supported by Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (grammar)—since brahma-ghoṣa depends on accurate pronunciation and textual integrity.